South Korea’s stock exchange activated a circuit breaker on Tuesday, pausing trading in the benchmark KOSPI index after a steep decline driven by heavy selling in technology shares.

The intervention marks a significant escalation in the volatility that has gripped Asian equity markets, which have staged a sharp reversal from recent record levels.

34% lower, the subsequent plunge was severe enough to trigger the exchange's volatility controls.

The halt underscores the intensity of the profit-taking wave that has swept through the region.

While the KOSPI opened 0.34% lower, the subsequent plunge was severe enough to trigger the exchange's volatility controls.

The sell-off was particularly concentrated in the technology sector, where investors have been aggressively liquidating positions following a prolonged rally.

This development follows a week of sustained selling pressure across Asian markets, fueled by overnight losses on Wall Street.